Barcelona: Spanish Cooking Class & Boqueria Market Tour

Summary

Barcelona hands-on paella class with local chef and market walk

You’ll join a local chef in Barcelona for a walk through La Boqueria market before rolling up your sleeves to make tapas, seafood paella, and sangria together. Share laughs and stories over dinner you’ve cooked yourself — and take home recipes to relive those flavors long after you leave Spain.

What’s the experience like?

“Try this one — it’s the sweetest,” our chef Marta grinned, holding out a slice of jamón at La Boqueria. I’d barely slept after arriving in Barcelona, but the hum of the market — the calls from fishmongers, that sharp citrus smell near the fruit stalls — woke me up fast. We wandered between counters, Marta pointing out which peppers made the best sofrito for paella. I tried to say “pimiento” with her accent; she laughed and corrected me (I’ll get it right someday). Picking out ingredients with her felt like being let in on a secret.

Back at the kitchen, we all crowded around chopping boards. My hands still smelled faintly of orange peel from the market. Marta showed us how to stir the rice just enough (“never too much!”), and I was surprised by how patient she was when my garlic slices stuck together. Someone spilled a bit of wine — no one cared. The room filled with that warm saffron scent as the seafood paella started bubbling. Honestly, making sangria together felt more like a group of friends than strangers on a cooking class in Barcelona.

I still think about that first bite: smoky paprika on the pinchos, salty cheese melting into bread, and then the paella — rich but not heavy, with mussels so fresh you could almost hear the sea if you closed your eyes. We lingered at the table longer than planned, swapping stories about home and scribbling down Marta’s recipes (my handwriting is still stained with tomato). Walking out into the evening air, I realized I’d stopped feeling like a tourist for a little while.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Interactive Spanish cooking class

• Visit La Boqueria market
• Learn to make tapas
• Prepare traditional paella
• Make sangria
• Enjoy the meal together
• Receive recipes to take home

Top questions

How long does this Barcelona cooking class last?

The experience lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours total.

Do I get to visit La Boqueria market during this tour?

Yes, there’s a guided walk through La Boqueria market included before cooking.

Is lunch or dinner included in this Spanish cooking experience?

You’ll enjoy a full meal of tapas, seafood paella, and sangria that you help prepare.

Are vegetarian options available for this Barcelona cooking class?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested when booking.

Can children join this cooking class in Barcelona?

Infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are allowed.

Will I get recipes to take home after the class?

Yes, you’ll receive recipes from your chef at the end of the experience.

Is public transportation nearby for getting to the meeting point?

Yes, there are public transportation options close by.

What dishes will we learn to make during this Spanish cooking workshop?

You’ll prepare tapas (pinchos), traditional seafood paella, and sangria.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walk through La Boqueria market with your chef (when open), an interactive Spanish cooking class where you’ll make tapas, seafood paella, and sangria together, plus all recipes to take home — and of course plenty of food shared around the table before heading out into Barcelona again.